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Quarter 1, 2005 – Vol 1, Num 1 |
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Comic Book “Home Editing”
for Fun and…
by Chris Budel
Ever looked at a comic-book cover and thought “I could’ve done better than that!”? Or maybe there’s a secret vandal running around in the back of your mind that wants a cheap laugh from some childish double entendre or sixth grade playground humor superimposed onto a cover that someone worked long and hard to get ‘just right’?
The examples for this article were culled from collections and quarter boxes at conventions over the years, saved for their subtle humor, infantile belly-laughs, and/or clever reworkings by until now undiscovered wits with a mind full of ideas, a fist full of ball-point pens, and a spare 5 minutes.
Let's face it, whether it’s something that the rushed artist accidentally left out (World's Finest #210), or perhaps the physiognomy is all wrong and needs to be started over from scratch (Tarzan #75), the home editor has many arrows in his quiver to attack the problem head on. Sometimes, being trapped in an environment like a Hospital for hours on end can give the frustrated Home Editor a new lease on life, and the hidden meaning that the original artist subconsciously put there is made plain for all to see (Dick Tracy #115).
At one time or another we’ve all cursed the Madison Avenue machine that sells us the soap or the new and improved gadget that we didn't know we needed, all in order for us to be able to view the American media of our choice for a price we can live with. How many times have we secretly wanted to give them a piece of our mind, however small (Jughead’s Jokes #4)? Or sometimes there is the problem of how to fill all those hours, and all that wasted space around the ‘product’. Defacing doodlers can have a field-day with the right ad, helping all the items that only made it as far as the cutting room floor to see the light of day (Brave and Bold #74).
The things that should be on that cover that you know the character would want are just as important as things the artist left off. For instance, Huck Finn was very mature for his age, growing up in the streets cast out by a dysfunctional family, left to find his own way at a time when America, as any student of history could tell you, had no Coca-Cola, Diet Dr. Pepper, or Mason's Root Beer. And keel-boatin’ can work up a powerful thirst — look who's smiling now, to paraphrase the GED ads so often occupying the back covers of our favorite magazines in the ’70s (Classics Illustrated #19). A wise man once said that “when you got it, flaunt it” (or maybe that was a ’70s Mad back cover featuring Castro and some hijacked jets), and the Home Editor of Jumbo #125 took this to heart, performing above and beyond the call of duty either for his own prurient interest, or acting on behalf of Sheena the Jungle Girl to show off her pins to an adoring audience. Harmless visual stimuli? Frederic Wertham had Fiction House's number, and this Home Editor was obviously corrupted by the evil intentions of this comic and it's cynical editorial staff that waited to prey on the unsuspecting public. Or maybe it was just a healthy exercise, a sort of ‘mental floss’ if you will — you be the judge (Jumbo Comics #125).
Then there is the witty adding of dialogue that captures a nations' sentiments (Fight the Enemy #2); or acts as a humbling put-down to a school-yard bully, or that guy who's owed you fifty cents since Easter Break (Little Lotta in Foodland #1). Cover blurbs strangely absent from certain mags have inspired added dialogue in all our minds, and a few examples exist for all to read and ponder: Monsters really don't want to hurt us — they’re torn between the hideous visage they occupy and their wounded inner child, sometimes even cursing in their anger and their pain. Pity those poor beasts, and try to understand why they do the things that they do — all this is imparted by a shrewd judge of character, the Home Editor who sees what we choose not to (Creepy Things #6).
Finally, for this article at least, there is the mixed-media form of Home Editor handiwork. Occupying a place in our hearts as well as on the newsstand of yore were the humorous characters who all, somehow, must've shared a space in some alternate reality universe. Now is your big chance to right the wrongs of copyright and pair up characters who belong together for their happiness as well as ours (Sad Sack #227).
These examples are provided to get your creative juices flowing, to get you to dust off that Home Editor Hat that you put in the closet when you went away to High School. Think of all the life-experience you have that can flow from your Bic as you rewrite the wrongs of comic history. You're the young generation, and you've got something to say! This column will appear as long as there is interest, and next time we'll show you covers created by Home Editors everywhere who read this article and took charge of their destiny in the comic-book defacing department.
Truly pornographic images, while usually hilarious around the office, cannot be reproduced; and images depicting copyright infractions on modern-age comics (though they may be big targets) that lawyers with a few spare billable hours might be offended by may not be printed. All other images (e.g. of older comics) will be reproduced. Go nuts. All images that are reproduced must include an email address. You can get a free one at Yahoo! in minutes.
All submissions can be emailed to order@nostalgiazone.com, or can be faxed to us at 612-822-2805.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.
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"even the
dog gets
a face"
"a chimp
off the
old block"
"'Der Führer'
and
'Sieg Heil'"
"Mr. Chump
puts his
money
where his
mouth is"
"obstacle
course"
"'Rolling
on the
River'"
"a future in
advertising"
"only a
strong
America"
"cut to the
quick"
"call my
therapist"
"the new,
equal-
opportunity
army"
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